Ratings Prime

AI guide · instant answers 24/7
Hey! Welcome to Ratings Prime. Have a question about your VA benefits? Drop it here or call us at 305-897-2805.
Protected by our Privacy Policy
Know Your Benefits

Every VA Benefit at Your Rating — 10% to 100%

Tap your rating below. You'll see your complete list — everything new at your level, plus everything you keep from the levels below it. No clicking back and forth.

Book Free Strategy Call → Calculate Your Rating
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 100% P&T
How It Works

Understanding VA Disability Ratings

VA disability ratings go from 0% to 100%, in steps of 10%. The higher your rating, the more benefits you unlock. Some benefits kick in only at certain percentages. This page breaks down everything for you.
1

Ratings Go From 0% to 100%

The VA assigns a percentage based on how much your service-connected condition affects your daily life and ability to work.

2

Higher Rating = More Benefits

Each rating level unlocks new benefits on top of the ones below it. You keep every benefit from the lower levels.

3

Key Thresholds Matter

Certain ratings unlock big changes. 30% unlocks dependent pay. 50% unlocks top-priority healthcare and zero copays. 100% P&T unlocks the most of all, including full student loan discharge.

Rating-by-Rating Breakdown

Your Benefits at Every Rating Level

Find your rating below to see exactly what you qualify for. Each level includes everything from the ratings below it, plus new benefits.
0%

0% — Service-Connected, Non-Compensable

Monthly Compensation: $0.00
  • VA Healthcare enrollment — A compensable 0% rating places you in Priority Group 6. A non-compensable 0% rating places you in Priority Group 5 or 8 depending on your household income. Either way, you can enroll and be treated at VA medical facilities.
  • Service-connected condition treatment — The VA will treat the specific condition(s) that are service-connected at no cost to you.
  • VA Home Loan eligibility — You can apply for a VA-backed home loan with a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). No down payment required in most cases. And if you receive VA compensation for a service-connected disability, the VA funding fee is waived entirely.
  • VALife — guaranteed life insurance — Any service-connected rating, even 0%, qualifies you if you are age 80 or under. Up to $40,000 in whole life coverage in $10,000 increments, with guaranteed acceptance, no health questions, and no deadline to apply.
  • Commissary, exchange, and MWR access — Any service-connected rating unlocks lifetime access to military commissaries, base exchanges, and MWR facilities, plus online military exchange shopping.
  • Annual clothing allowance — If a prosthetic, brace, wheelchair, or prescribed skin medication wears out or stains your clothing, you can claim roughly $1,000 or more every year. This is triggered by the device or medication, not by your rating percentage.
  • Free lifetime National Parks pass — A service-connected disability qualifies you for a free lifetime America the Beautiful Access Pass, covering entrance and day-use fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.
  • Vet Centers — free counseling, no paperwork — Combat veterans and survivors of military sexual trauma get free confidential counseling with no rating requirement and no VA enrollment. Family members can be seen too.
  • Burial and memorial benefits — Burial in a VA national cemetery at no cost, plus a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.
10%

10% Disability Rating

Monthly Tax-Free Compensation: $180.42
Includes everything at 0%, plus the following new benefits:
  • Monthly tax-free compensation: $180.42 — This money is not taxed. It goes straight into your pocket every month.
  • VA Healthcare — Priority Group 3 — You move up the priority list for VA medical care. Shorter wait times and broader access.
  • VA Dental (one-time) — One-time dental treatment for conditions related to your military service.
  • VR&E eligibility (Chapter 31) — Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, if you have a barrier to getting or keeping a job. Covers job training, resume help, and more.
  • VA funding fee exemption — now automatic — Because you receive compensation for a service-connected disability, you are exempt from the VA loan funding fee. On a $300,000 first-use loan with no money down, that is roughly $6,450 you never pay.
  • Federal hiring preference — 10 points — A service-connected rating of 10% or higher earns you a 10-point veterans’ preference on federal job applications, ahead of the 5-point preference other veterans receive.
  • State property tax relief may start here — Most veterans assume property tax breaks begin at 100%. Many states offer partial exemptions from 10% or 30% up. Check what your state offers.
20%

20% Disability Rating

Monthly Tax-Free Compensation: $356.66
Includes everything at 10%, plus the following new benefits:
  • Monthly tax-free compensation: $356.66 — Nearly double the 10% rate. This is still tax-free money every month.
  • No new federal programs unlock at 20% — Your gain at this level is the pay increase, plus everything you already keep from 10%. The next real threshold is 30%, which adds monthly pay for your dependents.
30%

30% Disability Rating Key Threshold

Monthly Tax-Free Compensation: $552.47 (veteran alone)
Includes everything at 20%, plus these important new benefits:
  • Monthly tax-free compensation: $552.47 (veteran alone) — At 30%, your pay rate depends on how many dependents you have. Veterans with a spouse, children, or dependent parents get MORE money each month.
  • Additional compensation for dependents — This is the threshold! Starting at 30%, you get extra money each month for your spouse, each child, and dependent parents. This can add hundreds to your monthly payment.
  • VA Dental — full mouth coverage if your dental condition is service-connected.
  • VA Healthcare — Priority Group 2 — At 30% you move up from Priority Group 3 to Priority Group 2, ahead of veterans rated 10% and 20%.
  • Beneficiary travel pay — At 30% or higher, the VA reimburses your mileage and travel costs to and from appointments for your service-connected care.
  • “30 Percent or More Disabled Veteran” hiring authority — Federal agencies can appoint you noncompetitively, skipping the usual competitive hiring process entirely. Your 10-point preference also upgrades to the CPS category.
40%

40% Disability Rating

Monthly Tax-Free Compensation: $795.84
Includes everything at 30% (including dependent pay), plus:
  • Monthly tax-free compensation: $795.84 — A significant jump from 30%. Plus dependent pay on top of this.
  • No new federal programs unlock at 40% — The pay increase is the gain here. The next threshold is a big one: at 50% you reach top-priority VA healthcare and stop paying copays entirely. If you are close, it is worth running your numbers.
50%

50% Disability Rating Key Threshold

Monthly Tax-Free Compensation: $1,132.90
Includes everything at 40%, plus:
  • Monthly tax-free compensation: $1,132.90 — You have now crossed the $1,000/month mark. This amount does not count as income for tax purposes.
  • VR&E nearly auto-approved — At 50%, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Chapter 31) eligibility is much easier to obtain. The VA assumes you likely have a serious employment barrier at this level.
  • VA Healthcare — Priority Group 1 — This is the threshold most veterans miss entirely: top-priority VA healthcare starts at 50%, not 100%. A 50% rating puts you in Priority Group 1 alongside veterans rated 100%.
  • Zero copays for VA care and prescriptions — At 50% or higher you pay nothing for VA appointments, inpatient stays, or medications — for every condition, not just your service-connected ones. If you have been paying copays at 50% or above, stop and ask the VA why.
  • CRDP — retirees keep retirement AND disability pay — Military retirees with 20 years rated 50% or higher receive their full retirement pay and their full VA compensation with no offset. This starts at 50%, not 100%.
  • CRSC — combat-related special compensation — If your disabilities are combat-related, CRSC restores retirement pay the VA offset took, and it is tax-free. Medical (Chapter 61) retirees qualify too. You take CRDP or CRSC, whichever pays more.
60%

60% Disability Rating TDIU Threshold

Monthly Tax-Free Compensation: $1,435.02
Includes everything at 50%, plus:
  • Monthly tax-free compensation: $1,435.02 — Plus additional amounts for dependents.
  • TDIU eligibility (single condition) — If you have ONE service-connected condition rated at 60% or higher and it prevents you from working, you may qualify for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability. TDIU pays you at the 100% rate even if your combined rating is not 100%.
70%

70% Disability Rating TDIU Threshold

Monthly Tax-Free Compensation: $1,808.45
Includes everything at 60%, plus:
  • Monthly tax-free compensation: $1,808.45 — Nearly $1,800 per month, tax-free, plus dependent pay.
  • TDIU eligibility (combined rating) — If your combined rating is 70% or higher AND at least one condition is rated at 40% or more, you can qualify for TDIU. This pays you at the 100% rate.
  • Stronger case for Individual Unemployability — At 70% combined, the VA takes unemployability claims much more seriously. If your conditions keep you from holding a steady job, this is worth pursuing.
  • Caregiver program (PCAFC) — your spouse can get paid — Rated 70% or higher and need help with daily activities? The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers pays your family caregiver a monthly stipend, often $1,500 to $3,000 or more depending on your area, plus healthcare coverage and training for them.
80%

80% Disability Rating

Monthly Tax-Free Compensation: $2,102.15
Includes everything at 70%, plus:
  • Monthly tax-free compensation: $2,102.15 — Over $2,100 per month, completely tax-free. Plus dependent pay on top.
  • No new federal programs unlock at 80% — You keep everything from 70%, including the caregiver program. From here the goal is 100%, and TDIU can get you paid at the 100% rate without a 100% rating if your conditions keep you from working.
90%

90% Disability Rating

Monthly Tax-Free Compensation: $2,362.30
Includes everything at 80%, plus:
  • Monthly tax-free compensation: $2,362.30 — Close to the maximum schedular rate. Plus dependent pay.
  • One step from 100% — No new federal programs unlock at 90%, but the jump from 90% to 100% is the largest on the entire scale: roughly $1,576 more per month, plus student loan discharge, family healthcare, and full dental. A single additional service-connected condition is often all it takes. Worth a conversation.
100%

100% Disability Rating Maximum Schedular

Monthly Tax-Free Compensation: $3,938.58
Includes everything at 90%, plus all of these major benefits:
  • Monthly tax-free compensation: $3,938.58 — The highest schedular rate. Nearly $4,000 per month, completely tax-free, plus additional pay for dependents.
  • VA Healthcare — Priority Group 1, zero copays — You are in the top priority group, which you actually reached back at 50%, and you pay nothing for VA appointments, inpatient care, or prescriptions.
  • Full dental care coverage — Complete dental care at no cost, for all dental conditions, not just service-connected ones. Veterans paid at the 100% rate through TDIU qualify for this too.
  • Federal student loans discharged (TPD)Requires P&T or TDIU — If your 100% is Permanent & Total, or you are paid at the 100% rate through TDIU, your federal student loans can be erased completely through Total and Permanent Disability discharge. Direct, FFEL, and Perkins loans and TEACH Grant service obligations all qualify, and the discharged balance is permanently exempt from federal income tax. The Education Department matches records with the VA automatically, but thousands of eligible veterans still have to apply. Apply at StudentAid.gov.
  • DEA (Chapter 35) — Dependents’ Education AssistanceRequires P&T or TDIU — Your spouse and children can receive up to 36 months of education and training benefits. This one requires your 100% to be Permanent & Total, so check your award letter for the P&T designation before you count on it.
  • CHAMPVA health insurance for dependentsRequires P&T or TDIU — Your spouse and children can get healthcare coverage through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA, covering doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescriptions. Like Chapter 35, this requires the Permanent & Total designation.
  • Property tax exemptions — Most states offer full or partial property tax exemptions for 100% disabled veterans, often worth thousands of dollars a year. Many states also offer partial exemptions at lower ratings. Rules vary widely — check your state.
  • Space-A military flightsRequires P&T — Fly on military aircraft on a space-available basis at no cost. The law reserves this for veterans whose service-connected disability is rated permanent and total. Routes cover the continental U.S. plus Alaska, Hawaii, and the U.S. territories, and your dependents can fly with you when you travel together.
  • State-level benefits — Free vehicle registration, hunting and fishing licenses, state park passes, and more. Benefits vary by state.
  • Social Security disability — expedited review — A 100% P&T rating gets your SSDI claim flagged for expedited, critical-case handling at Social Security. It is not automatic approval, but it moves you to the front of the line, and VA compensation and SSDI can be collected at the same time.
  • Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) — 100% is not the ceiling. Loss of use of a limb or creative organ, housebound status, or needing help with daily activities like bathing and dressing all pay above the 100% rate — from an extra $139.87 a month up to $10,000 and beyond.
  • Adapted housing grants (SAH / SHA) — Severe mobility loss or blindness can qualify you for up to roughly $120,000 toward buying, building, or modifying a home so you can live in it independently.
  • Automobile grant and adaptive equipment — Loss of use of a hand or foot, or certain vision loss, qualifies you for a one-time grant of roughly $26,000 toward a vehicle, plus VA-paid adaptive equipment such as hand controls and lifts.
  • HISA grant — home modifications — Up to $6,800 for service-connected veterans to make structural changes at home: roll-in showers, widened doorways, ramps, and accessible sinks.
  • Free prescriptions, hearing aids, and eyeglasses — No medication copays at all, and the VA supplies, fits, and maintains hearing aids and eyeglasses at no cost to you.
  • DIC for your survivors after 10 yearsRequires P&T — If you hold 100% P&T for 10 continuous years before you pass, your surviving spouse qualifies for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation even if your death has nothing to do with your service. This is one of the strongest reasons to pursue the P&T designation.
  • Paid at the 100% rate through TDIU? This whole list is yours — TDIU pays at the 100% rate, and nearly every benefit on this card applies to you, including student loan discharge, full dental, and zero copays. Where P&T is required, TDIU generally counts when your unemployability is permanent.
P&T

100% Permanent & Total (P&T) Most Benefits

The highest level of VA benefits. All of the above, PLUS these exclusive benefits.
Includes everything at 100%, plus these additional permanent benefits that only P&T veterans receive:
  • No future C&P re-examinations — The VA will not call you back for Compensation and Pension exams. Your rating is permanent. You do not have to worry about a rating reduction.
  • Federal student loans wiped out (TPD discharge) — The single biggest dollar benefit of P&T, and the one veterans miss most often. Your federal student loans can be discharged in full — Direct, FFEL, and Perkins loans plus TEACH Grant service obligations. The forgiven balance is permanently exempt from federal income tax and no 1099-C should be issued. Parent PLUS loans discharge as well when the P&T veteran is the borrower. State tax treatment varies, so ask a tax professional about yours. Apply at StudentAid.gov.
  • Survivor DIC after 10 years at P&T — Hold 100% P&T for 10 continuous years and your surviving spouse becomes eligible for DIC — a tax-free monthly payment for life — even if your death is unrelated to your service.
  • Space-A military flights, confirmed — The permanent and total designation is exactly what the statute requires for space-available military flights, so with P&T you qualify outright rather than hoping your 100% counts. You will need a DD Form 2765 ID card to check in at the terminal.
  • Chapter 35 DEA benefits confirmed for dependents — Your spouse and children are guaranteed up to 36 months of education and training benefits. This can be used for college, vocational school, apprenticeships, and more.
  • CHAMPVA for dependents confirmed — Your family members are fully eligible for CHAMPVA healthcare coverage. No uncertainty about future eligibility.
  • Most state benefits fully unlocked — State-level benefits for P&T veterans are often the most generous. Many states reserve their best benefits exclusively for veterans with a P&T designation.
  • Free college tuition for dependents — Some states offer free or reduced college tuition for the children and spouse of P&T veterans. This can save tens of thousands of dollars per child.
  • Strongest federal hiring standing — Your 10-point preference, which you earned back at 10%, combines with the “30 Percent or More Disabled Veteran” authority that lets any federal agency appoint you noncompetitively, with no competitive hiring process at all.

Your rating unlocks more than the VA puts in your award letter. We tracked down 15 more benefits that most veterans never claim.

See 15 Benefits Most Vets Miss →
Above 100%

Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)

Some veterans qualify for payments above the 100% rate. This is called Special Monthly Compensation.

SMC provides additional monthly payments for veterans with specific severe conditions. These include:

  • Loss or loss of use of a limb — hands, feet, arms, or legs
  • Housebound status — you are mostly confined to your home due to your disabilities
  • Aid and Attendance — you need help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, or eating
  • Loss or loss of use of a creative organ
  • Blindness or deafness under certain conditions

SMC rates range from SMC-K (an additional $139.87/month) all the way up to SMC-R ($10,000+/month for the most severe cases). There are many levels of SMC, and many veterans qualify without even knowing it.

Learn More About SMC →
Don't Leave Money on the Table

Benefits You Might Be Missing

Thousands of veterans are leaving benefits unclaimed. Here are the most common mistakes.

Did You Know?

Many veterans at 30% or higher do not have their dependents listed. If you have a spouse, children, or dependent parents and your rating is 30% or above, you should be getting extra money each month. Some veterans are losing hundreds of dollars per month because they never added their dependents to their VA record.

Veterans at 100% P&T often do not know about CHAMPVA or Chapter 35 DEA. Your spouse and children may qualify for healthcare coverage and education benefits. CHAMPVA can cover medical bills. Chapter 35 DEA can pay for college. These are huge benefits that many families never apply for.

State benefits vary widely — check your state's VA office. Some states offer incredible benefits like full property tax exemptions, free college for your kids, free vehicle registration, and more. Other states offer very little. You need to check what your specific state provides. Every state is different.

If you are 100% P&T or paid at 100% through TDIU, your federal student loans can be erased. Total and Permanent Disability discharge wipes out Direct, FFEL, and Perkins loans entirely, and the forgiven balance is not taxed federally. That is often tens of thousands of dollars — and thousands of eligible veterans have simply never filed the form.

Top-priority healthcare, zero copays, and CRDP all start at 50% — not 100%. This is the most common misunderstanding we see. If you are rated 50% or higher and you have been paying copays for VA appointments or prescriptions, that is money you should never have spent.

At 70% and up, the VA may pay your spouse to care for you. The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers pays a monthly stipend that often runs $1,500 to $3,000 or more, plus healthcare coverage and training for your caregiver. Most families never apply because they never hear about it.

State-Level Benefits

Your State May Offer Even More

Many of the best veteran benefits come from your state government, not the federal VA. These benefits vary widely from state to state.

Common State Benefits for Disabled Veterans

Depending on your state and your rating level, you may be eligible for some or all of the following. Most of these benefits are available at 100% or 100% P&T, but some states offer them at lower ratings.

Property Tax Exemptions Free Vehicle Registration Hunting & Fishing Licenses Free State Park Access Reduced College Tuition Free License Plates Income Tax Exemptions
View State VA Resources →

Not Sure What Rating You Deserve?

Book a free 15-minute strategy call. We will review your case and help you understand what benefits you should be receiving.

Book Free Strategy Call →
305-897-2805